Jewellery| Zoomorphic brooch

Object description

This brooch is referred to as a “zoomorphic pennanular brooch”. Zoomorphic refers to the stylised animal heads at the junction of the hoop and terminal. The word “pennanular” describes the form of the brooch- it is an incomplete circle.

Made from enamelled copper alloy, it dates to the 6th century AD. It was discovered in Ballymoney, Co. Antrim.

British metalworkers developed this style in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. Archaeological finds indicate that this brooch type was introduced in the east of Ireland, which had more exposure to influences from south-west Britain.

Interestingly, the chi-ro mongram “XP”, which are the first two letters of Christ’s name in Greek, appears on this brooch. It is formed by the cross arm flanking the opening ending in a small loop. This iconography is very rare on such objects.

Brooches in context

Today, we see brooches as items of jewellery. They are mostly worn as accessories and are brightly coloured with distinctive gemstones (see Pegasus brooch below). However, during the time to which this brooch dates, they were regarded more as functional objects with which to fasten clothes. Of course, this is also still the case today but probably less so.

British metalworkers developed this style of brooch in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD. Archaeological finds indicate that this brooch type was introduced in the east of Ireland, which had more exposure to influences from south-west Britain.

It is thought that British metalworkers combined Roman forms with motifs and techniques of the later Iron Age and Roman period. Therefore, the adoption of the brooch in Ireland suggests that Roman forms of dress were also introduced.

As mentioned earlier, the brooch contains the “chi-ro” monogram, the first two letters of Christ’s name in Greek. This blatant display of Christian iconography is very rare on brooches. The earliest use for this type of motif is the 6th century. The closest parallels are on the early 7th century “Codex Usserianus Primus”, an Old Latin Gospel book currently held in Trinity College

Sources

The Hunt Museum Essential Guide. Scala Publishers. 2002.